Salisbury attack: Novichok suspects named as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov – what we know

The CPS said it was satisfied there was enough evidence for the individuals to be charged.

The CPS has issued European arrest warrents for the extradition of Alexander Petrov (left) and Ruslan Boshirov in connection with the Novichok poisoning attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. (Photo: Metropolitan Police/PA)

According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), there is “sufficient evidence” to charge the individuals.

This is everything we know so far.

Who has been named?

The two men – both Russian nationals – have been named as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov.

It is believed the two men were travelling under aliases and Petrov and Boshirov are not their real names, according to Scotland Yard. They are thought to be aged around 40.

What happens now?

Police and prosecutors say there is sufficient evidence to charge both of them with the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia and Wiltshire police detective sergeant Nick Bailey.

The CPS confirmed it would not be applying to Russia for the extradition of the two men as the Russian constitution does not permit extradition of its own nationals.

However, it has obtained a European Arrest Warrant (EAW). It said this means that if either man travels to a country where an EAW is valid, they will be arrested and face extradition on the charges for which there is no statute of limitations.

A CCTV image of the two men on Fisherton Road, Salisbury, at 1.05pm on 4 March 2018. (Photo: Metropolitan Police/PA)

What do we know about the men’s movements?

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said CCTV shows the two suspects in the vicinity of Sergei Skripal’s Salisbury home on Sunday 4 March. Detectives believe the door of his property was contaminated with novichok on this date. Mr Skripal and his daughter were found seriously ill and slumped on a bench that same day.

Hours later, the men left the UK on a flight from Heathrow to Moscow – two days after they had arrived at Gatwick Airport on Friday 2 March.

Mr Basu said there was no evidence that the men re-entered the UK after this date.

Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov at Salisbury train station at 4.11pm on 3 March 2018. (Photo: Metropolitan Police/PA)

What about the second incident?

The announcement relates to the first incident – involving the Skripals and Nick Bailey – but Mr Basu confirmed that officers have now linked the attack on the Skripals to events in Amesbury less than four months later.

In the second incident, Dawn Sturgess, 44, and her partner Charlie Rowley, 48, were exposed to the same nerve agent used in Salisbury. Ms Sturgess died in hospital in July, just over a week after the pair fell ill.

Police do not believe Mr Rowley and Dawn Sturgess were deliberately targeted but instead became victims as a result of the way the novichok was discarded.

How was it discarded?

It is thought the nerve agent was contained in a perfume bottle and discarded after being put on to Mr Skripal’s door.

Mr Rowley told police he found a box he thought contained perfume in a charity bin on Wednesday 27 June. After he told police where he found the box, cordons were put in place and two bins behind shops in Catherine Street, Salisbury, were removed.

Inside the box was a bottle and applicator. Mr Rowley tried to put the two parts together at his home address on Saturday 30 June and in doing so got some of the contents on himself.

He said Dawn had applied some of the substance to her wrists before feeling unwell. The box was recovered by police from Mr Rowley’s home.

A photo of the counterfeit perfume box in which the novichok was discarded. It was found by Charlie Rowley on 27 June. (Photo: Metropolitan Police/PA)

The perfume bottle box is labelled as Nina Ricci Premier Jour. However, police said its own inquiries and those of Nina Ricci have confirmed that it is not a genuine Nina Ricci perfume bottle, box or nozzle.

What have the police said?

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, Britain’s most senior police officer, said the force remained “absolutely determined” to identify and bring about a prosecution in the UK courts for those responsible for the attacks.

Meanwhile Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Kier Pritchard said the identification of the two men – and that there was sufficient evidence to charge them – was “significant news”.

He added: “My thoughts, and those of Wiltshire Police, remain with Sergei and Yulia Skripal, Charlie Rowley, the family of Dawn Sturgess, who tragically died, and of course Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, one of our own officers, who thankfully continues to make a recovery.

“I wish to reassure the public of Salisbury and Amesbury that we, alongside our partners, will continue to work together closely to manage the impact of this incident on our communities and to help Salisbury and Amesbury return back to normal.”

She told the Commons that CCTV evidence “clearly” places the two Russians in the vicinity of the Skripals’ house shortly before the attack on them.

Prime Minister Theresa May updating MPs in the House of Commons after the CPS issued European Arrest Warrants for the extradition Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov. (Photo: PA)

She also told MPs that “this was not a rogue operation” and would “almost certainly” have been approved at a “senior level of the Russian state”.

Mrs May said Russia had replied with “obfuscation and lies” when asked to account for what happened, including claiming she had invented Novichok.

She added: “Their attempts to hide the truth by pushing out a deluge of disinformation simply reinforces their culpability.”

How can I help?

The police have said they would like to hear from anyone who saw the two men while they were in the UK between Friday 2 March and Sunday 4 March.

They are particularly interested in establishing as much as possible about their movements between 2pm and 4.30pm on Saturday 3 March and between 11.30am and 2pm on Sunday 4 March.

Anyone who recognises them, knows who they are or saw them is asked to contact the police in confidence on 0800 789 321 or email the investigation team [email protected]

A CCTV image of Alexander Petrov at Gatwick Airport on 2 March 2018. (Photo: Metropolitan Police/PA)

The police said they are not able to account for the whereabouts of the perfume bottle, nozzle or box between the attack on the Skripals on 4 March and when Charlie Rowley said he found it on 27 June.

They would therefore also like to speak to anyone who might have seen the the box or bottle between these dates. Anyone with information about where it might have been discarded should contact the investigation team on the phone number or email above.

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